Method and apparatus for manufacturing cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a cartridge having a case, a chamber adapted to be filled with printing material, a supply port that leads the printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, a flexible sheet member that constitutes at least a portion of the chamber, and a biasing member that biases the sheet member in the direction that expands the capacity of the chamber. a filling port that communicates with the inside of the chamber is formed in the case, and the filling port is closed after the printing material is filled from the filling port to inside the chamber.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, 
 a flexible sheet member constituting at least a portion of the chamber, 
 a biasing member that biases the flexible sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case, 
 an air introduction port configured and arranged to introduce air from outside the chamber to inside the chamber, and 
 a valve section that opens and closes the air introduction port; 
 forming a filling port in the case or the flexible sheet member by making a hole in the case or the flexible member, the filling port communicating with an inside of the chamber; 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the filling port; and 
 closing the filling port after refilling the chamber with the printing material from the filling port. 
 
     
     
       2. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the air introduction port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       3. A manufacturing apparatus of a cartridge for implementing the manufacturing method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a filling port forming member that forms the filling port, 
 a filling member that refills the chamber with the printing material from the filling port, and 
 a filling port sealing member that closes the filling port. 
 
     
     
       4. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, 
 a flexible sheet member constituting at least a portion of the chamber, and 
 a biasing member that biases the flexible sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case; 
 forming a filling port in the case or the flexible sheet member by making a hole in the case or the flexible member, the filling port communicating with an inside of the chamber; 
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the filling port before refilling printing material; 
 thereafter refilling the chamber with the printing material from the filling port; and 
 thereafter closing the filling port. 
 
     
     
       5. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, 
 a flexible sheet member constituting at least a portion of the chamber, 
 a case in which the chamber is provided, the case including a first case to which the flexible sheet member is joined and a second case attached to the first case so as to cover the flexible sheet member, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, and 
 a biasing member that biases the flexible sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case; 
 removing the second case; 
 forming a filling port in the case or the flexible sheet member by making a hole in the case or the flexible member, the filling port communicating with an inside of the chamber; 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the filling port; and 
 closing the filling port after refilling the chamber with the printing material from the filling port. 
 
     
     
       6. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, the supply port leading from an inside of the chamber to an outside of the case, 
 a sheet member having flexibility and constituting at least a portion of a wall of the chamber, 
 a biasing member that biases the sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case, 
 an air introduction port through which air is introduced from outside the chamber to inside the chamber, and 
 a valve section that opens and closes the air introduction port: and 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the supply port in a state with the inside of the chamber in communication with the outside of the chamber while opening the air introduction port by applying an external force on the valve section. 
 
     
     
       7. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 6 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the air introduction port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       8. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 6 , further comprising
 a step of removing at least a portion of the case. 
 
     
     
       9. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the case includes a first case to which the sheet member is joined and a second case attached to the first case so as to cover the sheet member, and 
 the step of removing at least a portion of the case is a step of removing the second case. 
 
     
     
       10. A manufacturing apparatus of a cartridge for implementing the manufacturing method according to  claim 6 , comprising:
 an opening member that opens the air introduction port, and 
 a filling member that refills the chamber with the printing material from the supply port. 
 
     
     
       11. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, the supply port leading from an inside of the chamber to an outside of the case, 
 a sheet member having flexibility and constituting at least a portion of a wall of the chamber, and 
 a biasing member that biases the sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case; 
 opening an exhaust port on the chamber, the exhaust port leading from the inside of the chamber to the outside of the chamber; 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the supply port in a state with the exhaust port open; and 
 closing the exhaust port after refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       12. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber to outside the case using the exhaust port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       13. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 a step of removing at least a portion of the case. 
 
     
     
       14. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the case includes a first case to which the sheet member is joined and a second case attached to the first case so as to cover the sheet member, and 
 the step of removing at least a portion of the case is a step of removing the second case. 
 
     
     
       15. A manufacturing apparatus of a. cartridge for implementing the manufacturing method according to  claim 11 , comprising:
 an exhaust port forming member that forms the exhaust port, 
 an exhaust port sealing member that closes the exhaust port, and 
 a filling member that refills the chamber with the printing material from the supply port. 
 
     
     
       16. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the supply port includes a foam which is a porous member and a filter which is a porous member, the filter being formed on the foam. 
 
     
     
       17. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, the supply port leading from an inside of the chamber to an outside of the case, 
 a sheet member having flexibility and constituting at least a portion of a wall of the chamber, 
 a biasing member that biases the sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case, and 
 an air chamber provided inside the case and outside the chamber, wherein 
 the case has a first case to which the sheet member is joined, and a second case attached to the first case so as to cover the sheet member; 
 removing the second case; 
 forming an airtight space corresponding to the air chamber outside the chamber after removing the second case; and 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the supply port while reducing pressure of the airtight space. 
 
     
     
       18. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 17 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber to outside the case from the supply port by pressurizing the airtight space, before refilling the chamber with the printing material and after forming the airtight space corresponding to the air chamber on the outside of the chamber. 
 
     
     
       19. A manufacturing apparatus of a cartridge for implementing the manufacturing method according to  claim 17 , wherein
 an airtight space corresponding to the air chamber is formed on the outside of the chamber, and comprising a pressure addition and reduction device that increases and reduces pressure of the airtight space. 
 
     
     
       20. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the supply port includes a foam which is a porous member and a filter which is a porous member, the filter being formed on the foam. 
 
     
     
       21. A manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge comprising:
 preparing a used cartridge having 
 a case, 
 a chamber adapted to be refilled with printing material, the chamber provided inside the case, 
 a supply port that leads printing material inside the chamber to outside the case, the supply port leading from an inside of the chamber to an outside of the case, 
 a sheet member having flexibility and constituting at least a portion of a wall of the chamber, 
 a biasing member that biases the sheet member in a direction that expands a capacity of the chamber, the biasing member provided inside the case, 
 an air introduction port by which air from outside the chamber adapted to be introduced to inside the chamber, and 
 a valve section that opens and closes the air introduction port; and 
 refilling the chamber with printing material from the air introduction port in a state with the inside of the chamber in communication with the outside of the chamber while opening the air introduction port by applying an external force on the valve section. 
 
     
     
       22. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 making an exhaust port that leads from inside the chamber to outside the chamber on the chamber before refilling the chamber with the printing material, wherein 
 refilling the chamber with the printing material is performed in a state with the exhaust port open. 
 
     
     
       23. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the exhaust port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       24. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 20 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the air introduction port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       25. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 exhausting at least a portion of a substance inside the chamber using the supply port before refilling the chamber with the printing material. 
 
     
     
       26. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 21 , further comprising
 a step of removing at least a portion of the case. 
 
     
     
       27. The manufacturing method of a recycled cartridge according to  claim 26 , wherein
 the case includes a first case to which the sheet member is joined and a second case attached to the first case so as to cover the sheet member, and 
 the step of removing at least a portion of the case is a step of removing the second case. 
 
     
     
       28. A manufacturing apparatus of a cartridge for implementing the manufacturing method according to  claim 21 , comprising:
 an opening member that opens the air introduction port, and 
 a filling member that refills the chamber with the printing material from the air introduction port.